Bismillaah walhamdulillaah wassalatu wasSalaamu alaa Rasoolillaah,
Assalamu alaykum dear beloved sisters!! This is your sister Umm Abdullah aka Umm Ibrahim :) I welcome you all to my blog bi idhnilaah. I apologize for being very inactive lately. Getting caught up in the dunyaa happens to us all every now and then. May Allah bless our efforts and guide us to the straight path and forgive us our shortcomings!
Ive updated some things about the blog such as changing the name from milatulhunafaa to "knowledge4sisters" So from now on this blog will be mainly a blog for sisters in which I will be discussing women's issues, sharing aspects of the Deen related to sisters (Ahkaam, stories, emaan boosters, etc), including general posts on reminders(fawaid) dawah and knowledge.
I hope you all benefit and share this blog among other akhawaat! May Allah bless you all!
Your sister,
Umm Ibrahim
A blog to empower sisters and educate them on matters of the Deen and Dunya!
Monday, August 8, 2016
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Motherhood
Bismillaah,
The Quran and Sunnah clearly highlight the status of the mother in Islam. It is very important for a Muslim to contemplate about why the Deen has given her such a high status. The following narration can give us a hint to this:
Sa'id ibn Abi Burda said, "I heard my father say that Ibn 'Umar saw a Yamani man going around the House while carrying his mother on his back, saying, 'I am your humble camel. If her mount is frightened, I am not frightened.' Then he asked, 'Ibn 'Umar? Do you think that I have repaid her?' He replied, 'No, not even for a single groan she made in pain."
The status of the mother is very high in Islaam for it is her who endures so much pain just to bring a new life into this world (by the permission of Allah alone of course). It is the mother who carries the responsibility of taking care of this new soul and nurturing it with love and care. It is the mother who is to be the main teacher and guide for this soul and if she is corrupt then most likely her child will also grow up corrupt and if she is righteous and strong her child will grow up righteous. Why? Because the mother as the poet said, is a madrasa (school) and if you prepare her very well then you prepare a nation with good foundations.
Just look throughout history. All of the greatest men were raised mainly by women or households run mainly by a mother figure. Musa (as) grew up in the house of Firawn but it was none other than Aasiyyah who raised him to be the great man he was. Eesa (as) was raised by Maryam (as), the greatest woman to walk this earth. Muhammad (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) was raised by Umm Ayman (Baraka Al Habashiyyah) for a good number of years after his mother's death. And he (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) did also live under the care of the bedouin woman Haleema as - Sa'diyyah who nursed him and took care of him the first 6 years of life. The great taabi'ee Rabia ar-Ra'y, who was the teacher and shaykh of Imam Malik ibn Anas and who taught in the masjid of the prophet, was raised by his mother for nearly 30 years after her husband went off for jihad in the sake of Allah. Imam al Shafi'ee was raised by his mother after his father's death and it was she who sent him to learn under the ulema from a very young age. And there are countless other examples.
Therefore, the status of the mother should never be undermined by anyone. The mother is truly the backbone of the household while the father is its main head and Ameer. Their example is like that if the captain of a ship and his crew. The husband is the captain while the mother is the example of the crew. The captain cannot drive the ship without his crew, he cannot make the journey alone. A father cannot raise children alone but he needs a mother for these children to grow righteous and strong. It is interesting to note that a man cannot really raise a child alone while a mother on the other hand can. This is because the child is with the mother from the very first second of his life. The child relies on the mother for survival. She breastfeeds the child and her milk is not just sustenance for him but immunity from diseases and other sicknesses as well. The mother stays up many nights with her child, feeding and taking care of him. Yes you may have dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep. Yes you may complain of constant back pain from your birth labor and from cleaning a lot. Yes you may be puked on and may constantly have to change your clothes. Yes you may have to wake up in the middle of the night and in the early mornings to change stinky diapers but who cares. All of that is for the one you love and this new experience of motherhood should only increase you in shukr to Allah for having blessed you with this beautiful blessing in your arms.
Motherhood comes with great rewards if the mother has ikhlaas (sincerity) in her actions and if she is patient and strong. The scrumptious bundle of joy you have in your hands brightens your day as soon as you see his beautiful smile and dimples on his cheeks. The beautiful shiny eyes and chubby cheeks seem to cast a spell on you as it makes you forget the lack of sleep or backache or house chores you were complaining about a few seconds earlier. So I ask Allah to reward all of our mothers for what they went through to bring us to this world and what they endured in raising us to the best of their abilities and may Allah make us righteous mothers who will raise the next generation of ulema and warriors. May Allah use us for His Deen and protect us and our families from all fitan (trials and tribulations). Aameen yaa Rabb al aalameen!
The Quran and Sunnah clearly highlight the status of the mother in Islam. It is very important for a Muslim to contemplate about why the Deen has given her such a high status. The following narration can give us a hint to this:
Sa'id ibn Abi Burda said, "I heard my father say that Ibn 'Umar saw a Yamani man going around the House while carrying his mother on his back, saying, 'I am your humble camel. If her mount is frightened, I am not frightened.' Then he asked, 'Ibn 'Umar? Do you think that I have repaid her?' He replied, 'No, not even for a single groan she made in pain."
The status of the mother is very high in Islaam for it is her who endures so much pain just to bring a new life into this world (by the permission of Allah alone of course). It is the mother who carries the responsibility of taking care of this new soul and nurturing it with love and care. It is the mother who is to be the main teacher and guide for this soul and if she is corrupt then most likely her child will also grow up corrupt and if she is righteous and strong her child will grow up righteous. Why? Because the mother as the poet said, is a madrasa (school) and if you prepare her very well then you prepare a nation with good foundations.
Just look throughout history. All of the greatest men were raised mainly by women or households run mainly by a mother figure. Musa (as) grew up in the house of Firawn but it was none other than Aasiyyah who raised him to be the great man he was. Eesa (as) was raised by Maryam (as), the greatest woman to walk this earth. Muhammad (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) was raised by Umm Ayman (Baraka Al Habashiyyah) for a good number of years after his mother's death. And he (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) did also live under the care of the bedouin woman Haleema as - Sa'diyyah who nursed him and took care of him the first 6 years of life. The great taabi'ee Rabia ar-Ra'y, who was the teacher and shaykh of Imam Malik ibn Anas and who taught in the masjid of the prophet, was raised by his mother for nearly 30 years after her husband went off for jihad in the sake of Allah. Imam al Shafi'ee was raised by his mother after his father's death and it was she who sent him to learn under the ulema from a very young age. And there are countless other examples.
Therefore, the status of the mother should never be undermined by anyone. The mother is truly the backbone of the household while the father is its main head and Ameer. Their example is like that if the captain of a ship and his crew. The husband is the captain while the mother is the example of the crew. The captain cannot drive the ship without his crew, he cannot make the journey alone. A father cannot raise children alone but he needs a mother for these children to grow righteous and strong. It is interesting to note that a man cannot really raise a child alone while a mother on the other hand can. This is because the child is with the mother from the very first second of his life. The child relies on the mother for survival. She breastfeeds the child and her milk is not just sustenance for him but immunity from diseases and other sicknesses as well. The mother stays up many nights with her child, feeding and taking care of him. Yes you may have dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep. Yes you may complain of constant back pain from your birth labor and from cleaning a lot. Yes you may be puked on and may constantly have to change your clothes. Yes you may have to wake up in the middle of the night and in the early mornings to change stinky diapers but who cares. All of that is for the one you love and this new experience of motherhood should only increase you in shukr to Allah for having blessed you with this beautiful blessing in your arms.
Motherhood comes with great rewards if the mother has ikhlaas (sincerity) in her actions and if she is patient and strong. The scrumptious bundle of joy you have in your hands brightens your day as soon as you see his beautiful smile and dimples on his cheeks. The beautiful shiny eyes and chubby cheeks seem to cast a spell on you as it makes you forget the lack of sleep or backache or house chores you were complaining about a few seconds earlier. So I ask Allah to reward all of our mothers for what they went through to bring us to this world and what they endured in raising us to the best of their abilities and may Allah make us righteous mothers who will raise the next generation of ulema and warriors. May Allah use us for His Deen and protect us and our families from all fitan (trials and tribulations). Aameen yaa Rabb al aalameen!
Thursday, August 6, 2015
The Muslim in This World
The Muslim in this world is free and was born free. The Muslim should live free and die free. The Muslim in this world should never accept humiliation, oppression, and defeat. The Muslim never bows down to the Taaghut and oppressor even in the worst situation. How can oppression, humiliation, and such lowly states be connected to the Muslim when Allah swt created him free and honored him/her with the greatest of blessings, Islam?! How can the Muslim walk with his head lowered knowing his tawheed is the only thing lighting up this world? How can the Muslimah with her hijaab of honor and dignity walk with her head lowered in embarrassment knowing she is the daughter and descendant of the likes of Maryam Bint Imraan, Aasiyah the wife of firawn, the Mothers of the believers, and such great women who all practiced this hijaab? The women who are truly dishonored and humiliated are the disbelieving women who have no dot of Emaan in Allah in their hearts. What will their ending be?
The word "humiliation" and "oppression" should not be tied to the Muslim when he is the best of people in this Dunya,having been honored with this mighty religion. O Muslim, whether you are pious or corrupt remember you have a greater status in the eyes of Allah than the greatest disbeliever! Why? Because of "la ilaha illa Allah!" Yes, because of your Tawheed. If you are pious and more God fearing than you are also more beloved to Allah than your fellow Muslim who is not practicing the Deen as he/she should be. This is what our prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) said;
The strong beliver is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, and there is good in both." [Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim]
The Muslim is honored by being a follower of the best of creation to walk this Earth, Muhammad ibn Abdillaah (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam). He is the best of prophets and seal of prophethood, the most beloved of Allah and the leader of mankind on the Day of Judgment. The Muslim should be honored to be a part of the best of nations brought forth for mankind, the ummah of our Rasul (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) like the Most High said;
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah . If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. [Surah Aal Imraan ayah 110]
O Muslim, are you not proud to be a descendant of the best of people after the prophets? The sahabah and their followers? What is it then that makes you walk with your head lowered in humiliation? Is it because you have realized that we have failed to follow in their path and are living in the worst of humiliation now? Yes you are right. This is the greatest shame for us.
How is that a few centuries ago this ummah was leading the world and filled the Earth with guidance and light and now it is being attacked from every corner and has become the lowest of nations? Whose fault is it? How did we fill this world with justice and guidance and now it is rampant with falsehood and the darkness of oppression and injustice roams its different corners?
O Muslim, do not point fingers at the enemy first but look to yourself first. We left the guidance and so Allah humiliated us at the hands of our enemies. The prophet told us that if we stick to two things we would never go astray, " The Book of Allah and My sunnah." Look at the state of the ummah now. Many Muslims do not even pray 5 times a day, we are all chasing the Dunya, and how many of us end up selling our Deen for a little temporary gain and enjoyment? Wallahi what a great loss for one who says "la ilaha illa Allah Muhammadur Rasul Allah."
O Muslim, We need to turn back to our Deen, we need to turn back to our creator and master. Now is the time for change. If not now then when? Do we honestly think Paradise is that cheap?
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allah has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause and made evident those who are steadfast? [Surah Aal Imraan ayah 142]
The prophets and awliyaa of Allah where tested in the greatest forms. Some prophets were killed by their own people such as the many messengers and prophets who were sent to the Bani Israail. Some of the followers of the prophets like the Ashaabul Ukhdood (People of the Ditch, refer. Surah al Buruj) were killed by their evil tyrannical king. Many of the sahabah were tortured and killed by the Mushrik Arabs like Sumaya who was brutally killed by Abu Jahl, Bilal who was tortured and had a stone placed on his chest by Ummayah ibn Khalaf or like Az-Zubayr who would be taken out to the outskirts of Makkah and whose uncles tortured him there. And of course we have Khubayb ibn Adiy who was crucified by Quraysh in the midst of everyone. And there are many more examples. They were sincere and firm in their Islaam and they lived and died for La ilaha illa Allah. So we ask Allah to make us follow in their footsteps and to give us firm belief and yaqeen in Him and in His promised victory.
The point is, Jannah is not cheap. It is expensive and if we want the good of both this temporary world and the everlasting eternal one then we should focus on our Deen. Allah swt created us for one main purpose and that is to worship Him.
And I did not create Jinn and Mankind except to worship Me. [Surah al Dhaariyat ayah 56]
The word "humiliation" and "oppression" should not be tied to the Muslim when he is the best of people in this Dunya,having been honored with this mighty religion. O Muslim, whether you are pious or corrupt remember you have a greater status in the eyes of Allah than the greatest disbeliever! Why? Because of "la ilaha illa Allah!" Yes, because of your Tawheed. If you are pious and more God fearing than you are also more beloved to Allah than your fellow Muslim who is not practicing the Deen as he/she should be. This is what our prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) said;
The strong beliver is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, and there is good in both." [Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim]
The Muslim is honored by being a follower of the best of creation to walk this Earth, Muhammad ibn Abdillaah (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam). He is the best of prophets and seal of prophethood, the most beloved of Allah and the leader of mankind on the Day of Judgment. The Muslim should be honored to be a part of the best of nations brought forth for mankind, the ummah of our Rasul (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) like the Most High said;
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah . If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. [Surah Aal Imraan ayah 110]
We are the last ummah but the first on the Day of Resurrection as our Prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) has informed us, "We are the last (but) we would be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and we would be the first to enter Paradise…" [Sahih Muslim from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayra]
O Muslim, are you not proud to be a descendant of the best of people after the prophets? The sahabah and their followers? What is it then that makes you walk with your head lowered in humiliation? Is it because you have realized that we have failed to follow in their path and are living in the worst of humiliation now? Yes you are right. This is the greatest shame for us.
How is that a few centuries ago this ummah was leading the world and filled the Earth with guidance and light and now it is being attacked from every corner and has become the lowest of nations? Whose fault is it? How did we fill this world with justice and guidance and now it is rampant with falsehood and the darkness of oppression and injustice roams its different corners?
O Muslim, do not point fingers at the enemy first but look to yourself first. We left the guidance and so Allah humiliated us at the hands of our enemies. The prophet told us that if we stick to two things we would never go astray, " The Book of Allah and My sunnah." Look at the state of the ummah now. Many Muslims do not even pray 5 times a day, we are all chasing the Dunya, and how many of us end up selling our Deen for a little temporary gain and enjoyment? Wallahi what a great loss for one who says "la ilaha illa Allah Muhammadur Rasul Allah."
O Muslim, We need to turn back to our Deen, we need to turn back to our creator and master. Now is the time for change. If not now then when? Do we honestly think Paradise is that cheap?
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allah has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause and made evident those who are steadfast? [Surah Aal Imraan ayah 142]
The prophets and awliyaa of Allah where tested in the greatest forms. Some prophets were killed by their own people such as the many messengers and prophets who were sent to the Bani Israail. Some of the followers of the prophets like the Ashaabul Ukhdood (People of the Ditch, refer. Surah al Buruj) were killed by their evil tyrannical king. Many of the sahabah were tortured and killed by the Mushrik Arabs like Sumaya who was brutally killed by Abu Jahl, Bilal who was tortured and had a stone placed on his chest by Ummayah ibn Khalaf or like Az-Zubayr who would be taken out to the outskirts of Makkah and whose uncles tortured him there. And of course we have Khubayb ibn Adiy who was crucified by Quraysh in the midst of everyone. And there are many more examples. They were sincere and firm in their Islaam and they lived and died for La ilaha illa Allah. So we ask Allah to make us follow in their footsteps and to give us firm belief and yaqeen in Him and in His promised victory.
The point is, Jannah is not cheap. It is expensive and if we want the good of both this temporary world and the everlasting eternal one then we should focus on our Deen. Allah swt created us for one main purpose and that is to worship Him.
And I did not create Jinn and Mankind except to worship Me. [Surah al Dhaariyat ayah 56]
Sunday, June 21, 2015
REPOST: The Muslimah and RAMADHAN (edited version)
The Muslimah and Ramadhan
**The Muslimah and Ramadhan**
Ramadhan, the month of mercy, turning to Allah, and perseverance in worship. It is the month in which the Noble Qur'an was first revealed to mankind as a guide for those who seek guidance. It is the month of immense ibadah with which the servant engages in to get closer to his or her Lord.
Ramadhan is not just the month of worship for the Muslim man but also the same if not more for the Muslim woman. Unfortunately it has become the norm in many muslim homes that the Muslim women cook hours upon hours preparing for iftaar and waste much of their time doing so during the days of fasting in Ramadhan. Ramadhan has become a month in which the individual avoids eating and drinking for a few hours, sleeps in during the day, eats load of food during the night, and goes for taraweeh some nights of Ramadhan if not the entire month. Ramadhan has become a month in which the individual kills time watching TV, playing video games and wal iyaadhu billaah listening to music! Ramadhan has become a real joke in our communities compared to what it was in the time of our righteous Salaf. We were meant to take this blessed month as a serious opportunity to get to closer to our creator. We have been informed that 6 months before Ramadhan would approach, our righteous Salaf would ask Allah to allow them to reach it and when it had arrived they would ask Allah to assist them in performing righteous acts of worship, and when it had left they would ask Allah to accept their good deeds from them for that beautiful month.
My dear sister, know and realize that you are no different than any other servant of Allah in this month. It is upon you to realize that Ramadhan is not just taking a break from eating, drinking, marital relations, backbiting, lying and sinning. Ramadhan is also a great time to turn to Allah and raise your rank among the righteous female worshippers. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala chose Maryam the daughter of Emraan as the the best woman on the face of the Earth. Why? Did she sit around and just earn this status or did she just earn this status due to her noble prophetic lineage? Far from it! Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her ) was a great worshipper of Allah. She was a woman who spent her days fasting and her nights in prayer. Her acts of worship and sincere faith definitely played a major role in earning her this mighty rank which every woman and human should envy.
My sisters, do not be among the losers of Ramadan. They are those who gain nothing from this blessed time except hunger and thirst. They are those who waste their hours in sleep, listening to filthy haram music, playing video games during the day and wasting hours watching movies and wasting their blessed time during the nights when they can be doing better. How can someone spend this blessed month this way when Allah (SWT) promised to forgive our past sins if we fast and pray with sincere belief and hoping for His reward? How can someone not read the Quran during this month when the Messenger of Allah read the most Quran during this month? Wallahi only a foolish person wastes their time during Ramadhan and does not benefit from it. Do we not remember the hadeeth where the prophet (pbuh) climbed the pulpit and said "Aameen" 3 times? The sahabah inquired about this and the prophet said Jibreel came and made duaa against 3 kinds of people. One of them being the one who witnessed Ramadhan and yet did not benefit from it and gained nothing!" O Allah do not make us of this kind!
This Ramadan my dear sisters, make sure to strive in knowing and perfecting your belief and creed. Knowledge of tawheed (the oneness of Allah) is extremely important. If we do not know our Creator, what He requires from us, and what we should avoid then what good is our prayer and fasting? It is better to meet Allah with a mountain full of sins than to meet Him with a corrupt aqeedah (belief). There are many beneficial books of belief the Muslimah can benefit from and go back to gain knowledge of Her Sustainer (Ar-Razzaaq) and Creator (Al Khaaliq):
- Kitaab at-Tawheed by Shaykh al Islaam Muhammad ibn AbdulWahhab (rahimahullah)
- Thalatha Usool (The 3 Fundamentals) by the same author
- Al Waajibat al Mutahatimaat also by Ibn AbdulWahhab
- Khud Aqeedatak (meaning "Take Your Aqeedah") by Muhammad ibn Jameel Zeno (rahimahullah)
and many other books.
After Aqeedah, it is important and necessary that you my sister gain knowledge of the basic fiqh of taharah(purification) and worship. The Messenger of Allah (sws) said that Allah does not accept the prayer without purity (taharah). (Sunan Ibn Majah and others). The Muslimah is in dire need of obtaining knowledge of these important and obligatory matters. Many sisters take the issue of learning the fiqh of taharah very lightly and end up in bad situations. Fiqh of Taharah entails knowledge of ghusl, rulings related to menses and post partum bleeding. Things the Muslimah needs to know about. The Muslimah should know what requires ghusl (bath) and everything from the basic fiqh of salah and fasting, like knowing what breaks your fast, when you are allowed to not fast, making up fasts, and so on. The believing woman should know the differences between the different bloods of nifaas, haydh, and istihaadhah. Alhamdulilah, the scholars have written tons of books on these issues and the Muslimah should benefit from these books because as mentioned before, this is obligatory/required knowledge.
Some basic books on some important knowledge of the fiqh of worship:
-Fiqh Made Easy by Shaykh Saalih Sadlan
http://www.islamhouse.com/207459/en/en/books/Fiqh_Made_Easy
-Fiqh as-Sunnah by Sayyid Saabiq
http://www.islamhouse.com/51828/en/en/books/Fiqh_us-Sunnah
Learning these things are all a form of worship and one of the means of getting closer to Allah swt with. Ramadhan is a month of worshipping Allah swt more and being involved in more good deeds than usual. So my sister, make this blessed month a means of getting closer to Allah whether its through extra prayers, recitation of the Quran, seeking knowledge of the important matters mentioned previously, and in general, getting to know your Creator. Allah swt stated that the main objective of fasting during Ramadhan is to gain one main thing: Taqwaa (Being conscious and aware of Allah swt). If we can not gain taqwaa in this blessed month then something is seriously wrong with us and we are need to go back to ourselves. Islam is a comprehensive deen. "Worship Allah and fear Him as much as possible" is what you should use as a guideline dear sister. If you are engaging in sins during Ramadhan and yet fasting, then there is a really great need to go back to our Islaam and we should ask ourselves, "Are we truly submitting to Allah?"
May Allah accept our fasting and other worship from us and make us from the successors!
Ramadhan, the month of mercy, turning to Allah, and perseverance in worship. It is the month in which the Noble Qur'an was first revealed to mankind as a guide for those who seek guidance. It is the month of immense ibadah with which the servant engages in to get closer to his or her Lord.
Ramadhan is not just the month of worship for the Muslim man but also the same if not more for the Muslim woman. Unfortunately it has become the norm in many muslim homes that the Muslim women cook hours upon hours preparing for iftaar and waste much of their time doing so during the days of fasting in Ramadhan. Ramadhan has become a month in which the individual avoids eating and drinking for a few hours, sleeps in during the day, eats load of food during the night, and goes for taraweeh some nights of Ramadhan if not the entire month. Ramadhan has become a month in which the individual kills time watching TV, playing video games and wal iyaadhu billaah listening to music! Ramadhan has become a real joke in our communities compared to what it was in the time of our righteous Salaf. We were meant to take this blessed month as a serious opportunity to get to closer to our creator. We have been informed that 6 months before Ramadhan would approach, our righteous Salaf would ask Allah to allow them to reach it and when it had arrived they would ask Allah to assist them in performing righteous acts of worship, and when it had left they would ask Allah to accept their good deeds from them for that beautiful month.
My dear sister, know and realize that you are no different than any other servant of Allah in this month. It is upon you to realize that Ramadhan is not just taking a break from eating, drinking, marital relations, backbiting, lying and sinning. Ramadhan is also a great time to turn to Allah and raise your rank among the righteous female worshippers. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala chose Maryam the daughter of Emraan as the the best woman on the face of the Earth. Why? Did she sit around and just earn this status or did she just earn this status due to her noble prophetic lineage? Far from it! Maryam (May Allah be pleased with her ) was a great worshipper of Allah. She was a woman who spent her days fasting and her nights in prayer. Her acts of worship and sincere faith definitely played a major role in earning her this mighty rank which every woman and human should envy.
My sisters, do not be among the losers of Ramadan. They are those who gain nothing from this blessed time except hunger and thirst. They are those who waste their hours in sleep, listening to filthy haram music, playing video games during the day and wasting hours watching movies and wasting their blessed time during the nights when they can be doing better. How can someone spend this blessed month this way when Allah (SWT) promised to forgive our past sins if we fast and pray with sincere belief and hoping for His reward? How can someone not read the Quran during this month when the Messenger of Allah read the most Quran during this month? Wallahi only a foolish person wastes their time during Ramadhan and does not benefit from it. Do we not remember the hadeeth where the prophet (pbuh) climbed the pulpit and said "Aameen" 3 times? The sahabah inquired about this and the prophet said Jibreel came and made duaa against 3 kinds of people. One of them being the one who witnessed Ramadhan and yet did not benefit from it and gained nothing!" O Allah do not make us of this kind!
This Ramadan my dear sisters, make sure to strive in knowing and perfecting your belief and creed. Knowledge of tawheed (the oneness of Allah) is extremely important. If we do not know our Creator, what He requires from us, and what we should avoid then what good is our prayer and fasting? It is better to meet Allah with a mountain full of sins than to meet Him with a corrupt aqeedah (belief). There are many beneficial books of belief the Muslimah can benefit from and go back to gain knowledge of Her Sustainer (Ar-Razzaaq) and Creator (Al Khaaliq):
- Kitaab at-Tawheed by Shaykh al Islaam Muhammad ibn AbdulWahhab (rahimahullah)
- Thalatha Usool (The 3 Fundamentals) by the same author
- Al Waajibat al Mutahatimaat also by Ibn AbdulWahhab
- Khud Aqeedatak (meaning "Take Your Aqeedah") by Muhammad ibn Jameel Zeno (rahimahullah)
and many other books.
After Aqeedah, it is important and necessary that you my sister gain knowledge of the basic fiqh of taharah(purification) and worship. The Messenger of Allah (sws) said that Allah does not accept the prayer without purity (taharah). (Sunan Ibn Majah and others). The Muslimah is in dire need of obtaining knowledge of these important and obligatory matters. Many sisters take the issue of learning the fiqh of taharah very lightly and end up in bad situations. Fiqh of Taharah entails knowledge of ghusl, rulings related to menses and post partum bleeding. Things the Muslimah needs to know about. The Muslimah should know what requires ghusl (bath) and everything from the basic fiqh of salah and fasting, like knowing what breaks your fast, when you are allowed to not fast, making up fasts, and so on. The believing woman should know the differences between the different bloods of nifaas, haydh, and istihaadhah. Alhamdulilah, the scholars have written tons of books on these issues and the Muslimah should benefit from these books because as mentioned before, this is obligatory/required knowledge.
Some basic books on some important knowledge of the fiqh of worship:
-Fiqh Made Easy by Shaykh Saalih Sadlan
http://www.islamhouse.com/207459/en/en/books/Fiqh_Made_Easy
-Fiqh as-Sunnah by Sayyid Saabiq
http://www.islamhouse.com/51828/en/en/books/Fiqh_us-Sunnah
Learning these things are all a form of worship and one of the means of getting closer to Allah swt with. Ramadhan is a month of worshipping Allah swt more and being involved in more good deeds than usual. So my sister, make this blessed month a means of getting closer to Allah whether its through extra prayers, recitation of the Quran, seeking knowledge of the important matters mentioned previously, and in general, getting to know your Creator. Allah swt stated that the main objective of fasting during Ramadhan is to gain one main thing: Taqwaa (Being conscious and aware of Allah swt). If we can not gain taqwaa in this blessed month then something is seriously wrong with us and we are need to go back to ourselves. Islam is a comprehensive deen. "Worship Allah and fear Him as much as possible" is what you should use as a guideline dear sister. If you are engaging in sins during Ramadhan and yet fasting, then there is a really great need to go back to our Islaam and we should ask ourselves, "Are we truly submitting to Allah?"
May Allah accept our fasting and other worship from us and make us from the successors!
Friday, May 22, 2015
The Beautiful Story of the companion Abu Aqeel al Ansaari (May Allah be pleased with him)
..then he raised his finger towards the sky, a gesture by which he meant to praise and thank Allah.
Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه, a man from the Ansaar, was one of the first people to be injured on the Day of Yamaamah.
(Battle of Yamama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)
He became hurt as a result of an arrow that struck him somewhere between his shoulder and his heart; it was a serious but non-lethal blow, and he was able to pull out the arrow. Nonetheless, his entire left side became weak, and so he returned to the Muslim encampment in order to seek medical attention. When the fighting became intense and the Muslims were forced to head back towards their encampment, Ma'an ibn 'Adee رضي الله عنه called out,
اللّه اللّه! والكرّة على عدوّكم
"O people of the Ansaar. (Remember) Allah! Allah! And turn around and bear down upon your enemies."
So as to set an example for others, Ma'an رضي الله عنه then raced ahead of everyone else, plunging directly into the ranks of the opposing army. And the people of the Ansaar, in response to Ma'an's plea, were right behind him.
At that point, Abu Aqeel رضي الله عنه got up, intending to catch up to his Ansaaree brothers. Some Muslims tried to convince him to stay where he was, saying to him, "O Abu Aqeel, you are not for fighting." Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه, referring to Ma'an's plea for help, said, "The caller mentioned me by name." Someone responded, "The caller merely said, "O people of the Ansaar." He was not referring to injured fighters."
Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه replied,
أنا رجل من الأنصار، وأنا أجيبه ولو حبو
"And I am from the Ansaar, and I will answer his call to his arms, even if I have to crawl (towards the enemy).
Because his entire left side was weak and numb, Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه was able to hold his sword with his right only; nonetheless, with pure grit and determination, he marched onwards toward the enemy, all the while calling out,
يا للأنصار، كرّة كيوم حنين
"O people of the Ansaar, let us launch a renewed attach like we did on the Day of Hunain"
(Battle of Hunayn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Every member of that elite Ansaaree group then fought with high spirits, seeking out one of the two things: Martydom or victory. With their renewed attack, they forced their enemies to retreat and seek refuge in the "Garden of Death".
(Battle of Yamama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
During the course of this assault, Abu 'Aqeel's arm was cut off; in fact, he was inflicted with a total of fourteen wounds, each of which was lethal in and of itself.
قال ابن عمر: فوقعت على أبي عقيل وهو صريع بآخر رمق، فقلت: أبا عقيل
Later on, when Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه walked by him, Abu 'Aqeel was taking in his last few breaths. Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنه said, "O Abu 'Aqeel," to which Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه responded with a heavy voice,
فقال: لبّيك. بلسان ملتاث لمن الدّبرة؟
"Here I am, answering your call. Who has won (today)?"
قلت: أبشر، ورفعت صوتي: قد قتل عدوّ اللّه
Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنه replied, "Rejoice, for the enemy of Allah (i.e. Musailamah) has been killed."
فرفع أصبعه إلى السّماء يحمد اللّه، ومات -رحمه اللّه
Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه then raised his finger towards the sky, a gesture by which he meant to praise and thank Allah.
قال : رحمه اللّه، ما زال يسأل الشّهادة ويطلبها، وإن كان ما علمت من خيار أصحاب نبيّنا
'Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه later said about Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه,
"May Allah have mercy on him. He has sought out martyrdom for a long time, and he has now achieved it. Verily, he is among the best of our Prophet's صلى الله عليه و سلم companions رضي الله عنهم أجمعين"
(Battle of Yamama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.)
He became hurt as a result of an arrow that struck him somewhere between his shoulder and his heart; it was a serious but non-lethal blow, and he was able to pull out the arrow. Nonetheless, his entire left side became weak, and so he returned to the Muslim encampment in order to seek medical attention. When the fighting became intense and the Muslims were forced to head back towards their encampment, Ma'an ibn 'Adee رضي الله عنه called out,
اللّه اللّه! والكرّة على عدوّكم
"O people of the Ansaar. (Remember) Allah! Allah! And turn around and bear down upon your enemies."
So as to set an example for others, Ma'an رضي الله عنه then raced ahead of everyone else, plunging directly into the ranks of the opposing army. And the people of the Ansaar, in response to Ma'an's plea, were right behind him.
At that point, Abu Aqeel رضي الله عنه got up, intending to catch up to his Ansaaree brothers. Some Muslims tried to convince him to stay where he was, saying to him, "O Abu Aqeel, you are not for fighting." Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه, referring to Ma'an's plea for help, said, "The caller mentioned me by name." Someone responded, "The caller merely said, "O people of the Ansaar." He was not referring to injured fighters."
Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه replied,
أنا رجل من الأنصار، وأنا أجيبه ولو حبو
"And I am from the Ansaar, and I will answer his call to his arms, even if I have to crawl (towards the enemy).
Because his entire left side was weak and numb, Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه was able to hold his sword with his right only; nonetheless, with pure grit and determination, he marched onwards toward the enemy, all the while calling out,
يا للأنصار، كرّة كيوم حنين
"O people of the Ansaar, let us launch a renewed attach like we did on the Day of Hunain"
(Battle of Hunayn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Every member of that elite Ansaaree group then fought with high spirits, seeking out one of the two things: Martydom or victory. With their renewed attack, they forced their enemies to retreat and seek refuge in the "Garden of Death".
(Battle of Yamama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
During the course of this assault, Abu 'Aqeel's arm was cut off; in fact, he was inflicted with a total of fourteen wounds, each of which was lethal in and of itself.
قال ابن عمر: فوقعت على أبي عقيل وهو صريع بآخر رمق، فقلت: أبا عقيل
Later on, when Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه walked by him, Abu 'Aqeel was taking in his last few breaths. Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنه said, "O Abu 'Aqeel," to which Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه responded with a heavy voice,
فقال: لبّيك. بلسان ملتاث لمن الدّبرة؟
"Here I am, answering your call. Who has won (today)?"
قلت: أبشر، ورفعت صوتي: قد قتل عدوّ اللّه
Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنه replied, "Rejoice, for the enemy of Allah (i.e. Musailamah) has been killed."
فرفع أصبعه إلى السّماء يحمد اللّه، ومات -رحمه اللّه
Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه then raised his finger towards the sky, a gesture by which he meant to praise and thank Allah.
قال : رحمه اللّه، ما زال يسأل الشّهادة ويطلبها، وإن كان ما علمت من خيار أصحاب نبيّنا
'Umar ibn Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه later said about Abu 'Aqeel رضي الله عنه,
"May Allah have mercy on him. He has sought out martyrdom for a long time, and he has now achieved it. Verily, he is among the best of our Prophet's صلى الله عليه و سلم companions رضي الله عنهم أجمعين"
**Originally posted by Salaf-Stories Blog
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
3 Brothers, 3 Wishes
Once, the sons of the great companion, AlZubayr ibn al Awwam (radiyallahu anhu) sat together under the shade of the Ka'bah. These sons were; Abdullah, Mus'ab, and Urwa. They sat in the Yemeni Corner of the Ka'bah with another young man, AbdulMalik ibn Marwan, conversing as young men do. Then one of them said, "let each one of ask of Allah to grant him what he loves most."
Abdullah went first and said, "My wish is to rule over Hijaaz (part of the Arabian Peninsula) and to take the khilaafa."
His brother Mus'ab said, "As for me, then I wish to rule over the 2 Iraaqs (Al Basra and Kufa) and for no one to differ with me over them."
AbdulMalik ibn Marwan responded, "If you two are satisfied with your wishes then I am satisfied with nothing less than to rule over the entire Earth. And to become the khalifa after Muawiyyah bin Abi Sufyan."
Urwa sat quietly listening intently to their wishes. His companions turned to him and asked, "And what do you wish for O Urwa?"
Urwa smiled and said, "May Allah bless for you all your wishes in this world. As for me, I wish to become a scholar who practices his knowledge and who people will come to and learn the Quran and Sunnah of their prophet from and the affairs of their religion and that I may eventually succeed by attaining the pleasure of Allah and His paradise."
The days passed and it wasn't long before Abdullah ibn alZubayr was given the bay'ah (pledge) for the khilaafa thus ruling over the people of Hijaaz, Yemen, Khurasan, Iraq, and Egypt, all giving their solemn oaths to him. Soon after that, Abdullah paid the ultimate price for his position until he was killed near the Ka'bah not far from where he made his wish some years ago.
And it wasn't long before his brother Mus'ab ibn alZubayr became governor over Iraaq for Abdullah and he too ends up losing his life for his leadership.
As for Urwa, his wish also came true for he came to be one of the greatest scholars of the tabi'een and one of the seven great fuqahaa of al Madinah. For his wish and desire to come true, Urwa completely dictated his time and youth to seeking knowledge from those living from the companions of the prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam). So he would go to their homes, pray behind them, follow their circles and meetings of knowledge until he ended up narrating from the likes of Ali ibn Abi Taalib, Abdurrahman ibn Awf, Zayd ibn Thaabit, Abu Ayyoob al Ansari, Usaama ibn Zayd, Sa'eed ibn Zayd, Abu Hurayra, Ibn Abbass, and AlNu'man ibn Basheer. Urwa sought knowledge mostly from his maternal and beloved aunt, Aisha bint Abi Bakr.
So the point of this story of 3 brothers and their wishes is to never give up on whatever good it is that you are doing..even if it takes you decades! The sincere person is persistent on the good whether it is personal ibaadah, helping others, or working to become a teacher, scholar, leader, etc. It also show us that for a person to fulfill his ambitions in life, he/she needs two main things: sincerity and hardwork. Sincerity is they key to all things good and bad. But it is praiseworthy and ONLY acceptable by Allah when it is a good deed. You must have a firm intention for whatever it is you wish to embark on. No hardwork comes easy except with sincere intention(ikhlaas). Of course as a Muslim, our intention for whatever good deed we do must be done for the sake of Allah first and foremost. After that, the deed should be in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. Secondly, no wish comes true except by working for it. They say victory is but a half hour and the prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) said in the authentic hadeeth, "Victory comes with patience."
We see the hardship and struggles all three of these brothers underwent. Abdullah sought khilaafa and he indeed worked for it until he ended up defending it and finally giving up his life in its cause. Likewise, his brother Mus'ab also fought and worked hard to attain his position and in the end he gave his life for it. Urwa who was the prime example of a scholar, also worked hard day and night seeking knowledge and learning under the companions of the Messenger of Allah until this young man ended up becoming one of the greatest scholars of this religion. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked by his son, "O my father, when will the servant of Allah find rest?" Imam Ahmad replied, "With the first step he takes into Paradise." We are not here in this world to play and fool around. We are here to work and serve Allah. The prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) spends more than 2 decades in the Arabian Peninsula calling the tribes to Allah and it took him this much years for the land of Hijaaz to finally come under Islaam. 20 years. You may think thats not alot . Think of Nuh (alayhis salaam) who spends almost 1,000 years calling his people to Allah as well. Patience is the key along with sincerity. You can not persist in your work if you do not have patience.
Never give up on your dreams and always follow the truth. If you follow the truth sincerely, it will lead you to following your heart and being content with whatever Allah has written for you in this world.
-Source: Biography of Urwa ibn AlZubayr from Suwar min Hayaati- Taabi'een by Abdurrahman Pasha.
Abdullah went first and said, "My wish is to rule over Hijaaz (part of the Arabian Peninsula) and to take the khilaafa."
His brother Mus'ab said, "As for me, then I wish to rule over the 2 Iraaqs (Al Basra and Kufa) and for no one to differ with me over them."
AbdulMalik ibn Marwan responded, "If you two are satisfied with your wishes then I am satisfied with nothing less than to rule over the entire Earth. And to become the khalifa after Muawiyyah bin Abi Sufyan."
Urwa sat quietly listening intently to their wishes. His companions turned to him and asked, "And what do you wish for O Urwa?"
Urwa smiled and said, "May Allah bless for you all your wishes in this world. As for me, I wish to become a scholar who practices his knowledge and who people will come to and learn the Quran and Sunnah of their prophet from and the affairs of their religion and that I may eventually succeed by attaining the pleasure of Allah and His paradise."
The days passed and it wasn't long before Abdullah ibn alZubayr was given the bay'ah (pledge) for the khilaafa thus ruling over the people of Hijaaz, Yemen, Khurasan, Iraq, and Egypt, all giving their solemn oaths to him. Soon after that, Abdullah paid the ultimate price for his position until he was killed near the Ka'bah not far from where he made his wish some years ago.
And it wasn't long before his brother Mus'ab ibn alZubayr became governor over Iraaq for Abdullah and he too ends up losing his life for his leadership.
As for Urwa, his wish also came true for he came to be one of the greatest scholars of the tabi'een and one of the seven great fuqahaa of al Madinah. For his wish and desire to come true, Urwa completely dictated his time and youth to seeking knowledge from those living from the companions of the prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam). So he would go to their homes, pray behind them, follow their circles and meetings of knowledge until he ended up narrating from the likes of Ali ibn Abi Taalib, Abdurrahman ibn Awf, Zayd ibn Thaabit, Abu Ayyoob al Ansari, Usaama ibn Zayd, Sa'eed ibn Zayd, Abu Hurayra, Ibn Abbass, and AlNu'man ibn Basheer. Urwa sought knowledge mostly from his maternal and beloved aunt, Aisha bint Abi Bakr.
So the point of this story of 3 brothers and their wishes is to never give up on whatever good it is that you are doing..even if it takes you decades! The sincere person is persistent on the good whether it is personal ibaadah, helping others, or working to become a teacher, scholar, leader, etc. It also show us that for a person to fulfill his ambitions in life, he/she needs two main things: sincerity and hardwork. Sincerity is they key to all things good and bad. But it is praiseworthy and ONLY acceptable by Allah when it is a good deed. You must have a firm intention for whatever it is you wish to embark on. No hardwork comes easy except with sincere intention(ikhlaas). Of course as a Muslim, our intention for whatever good deed we do must be done for the sake of Allah first and foremost. After that, the deed should be in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah. Secondly, no wish comes true except by working for it. They say victory is but a half hour and the prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) said in the authentic hadeeth, "Victory comes with patience."
We see the hardship and struggles all three of these brothers underwent. Abdullah sought khilaafa and he indeed worked for it until he ended up defending it and finally giving up his life in its cause. Likewise, his brother Mus'ab also fought and worked hard to attain his position and in the end he gave his life for it. Urwa who was the prime example of a scholar, also worked hard day and night seeking knowledge and learning under the companions of the Messenger of Allah until this young man ended up becoming one of the greatest scholars of this religion. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked by his son, "O my father, when will the servant of Allah find rest?" Imam Ahmad replied, "With the first step he takes into Paradise." We are not here in this world to play and fool around. We are here to work and serve Allah. The prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) spends more than 2 decades in the Arabian Peninsula calling the tribes to Allah and it took him this much years for the land of Hijaaz to finally come under Islaam. 20 years. You may think thats not alot . Think of Nuh (alayhis salaam) who spends almost 1,000 years calling his people to Allah as well. Patience is the key along with sincerity. You can not persist in your work if you do not have patience.
Never give up on your dreams and always follow the truth. If you follow the truth sincerely, it will lead you to following your heart and being content with whatever Allah has written for you in this world.
-Source: Biography of Urwa ibn AlZubayr from Suwar min Hayaati- Taabi'een by Abdurrahman Pasha.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
World Hijab Day (WHD)
Bismillaah,
Indeed, the best guidance is the guidance of our beloved prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) for in this guidance lies our success in both this world and the next. Leaving and neglecting the guidance of Muhamamd ibn Abdillah will only lead to lost causes and utter failure. So, O you who seeks success, follow the Messenger of Allah!
Nowadays, it seems as though the Muslims are only drowning in further ignorance and corruption as never before. In these tough times, the prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) advised us to stick to our Deen very strongly, "A time will come upon the people where the one who is holding strong to his Deen will be like the one holding on to hot coals!" [Sunan at-Tirmidhi]
This hadeeth tells us that things will only get stranger as the masses further away from practicing the Deen properly. Those who follow the sunnah and call to it will be seen as either backward or extreme, the deviants will increase in number and many will follow them not knowing who they really are and what they are calling to.
We wish to meet the prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) at al Hawd on the Day of Judgment and to drink from it. Do we not? We ask Allah to not make us of those who will be turned away from the prophet (saws) when he calls out to Allah, "O Lord! My companions!" and it will be said to him, "You do not know what they innovated after you."[Sahih al Bukhari]
This post is meant as an advice for my sisters in Islaam concerning World Hijaab Day or WHD. WHD has become a worldwide phenomenon since it first started in 2013 by sister Nazma Khan of New York and takes place February 1st of each year.
So what exactly is World Hijab Day and why even discuss it? Well, firstly I am choosing to address WHD because Hijaab is a part of our Deen. In fact, it is Ibadah. Allah swt has ordained for the Muslim women to cover her body with the proper islamic jilbaab (outer garments). So our Hijaab is not just a piece of cloth or garment we wear for the sake of modesty. NO. Firstly, we don this hijaab out of obedience to the order of Allah swt and fulfilling this obligation. Secondly, we know that the hijaab represents the modesty of the muslim woman. Another main reason I wish to address World Hijab Day is because nowadays the proper islamic hijaab has been neglected.
The hijaab has been reduced to a "headscarf". The conditions of hijaab are not explained or discussed as they should be and this is a big issue. There are some who give da'wah and give the perception that anything can be hijaab as long as you are "modest." Which Deen are they referring to when they say such things? The Quran and Sunnah have made the conditions of the hijaab very clear and the scholars have explained these in every era.
So WHD as explained on the website was established:
"in recognition of millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab and live a life of modesty."
[source: http://worldhijabday.com/about-us/]
After reading these words, I ask myself what basis does a Muslim have in Islam to establish such an annual event? What is the difference between this and lets say Father's Day, Mother's Day, International Women's Day, World Cancer Day, and so on? Do we really need an annual event to recognize women who wear the hijaab? Isn't this a form of imitating nonbelievers in their events? Is this helpful and good for the Da'wah? Will more good than bad come out of it?
As Muslims, we abide by the Quran and Sunnah and not by our own thoughts and reasoning for such matters. Now sister Nazma Im sure had the best of intentions in starting WHD but when delving into such matters, it is absolutely necessary that the Muslim refers back to the sources and principles of the Shari'ah. We can't just "do" based on our intentions and as they say "run on barakah." We must know the ruling of what we are doing, meaning if it is permissible or not.
The main issues with WHD are as follows:
1. WHD: A form of imitating the kuffar.
World Hijab Day is a good da'wah effort and I won't deny this. In a time where many western countries are banning the hijaab and niqaab ( now more so the niqaab), WHD helps educate non-muslims on hijaab and Islam. Some non-Muslim women have looked into Islam after attending a WHD event. May Allah guide these women to Islaam and keep them firm on it. May Allah guide them to wear the proper shari' hijaab as well and may Allah reward sister Nazma for her good intentions.
I have no problem with WHD if it is done according to the correct islamic guidelines for da'wah and if it is something permissible(i.e. not having it on a specific day of the year). This is the main issue, the correct guidelines are not followed. You have issues such as unnecessary gender interaction, promotion of an incorrect hijaab and lack of true education on Islaam and its fundamentals.
Imitating the disbelievers in their holidays is something the Shariah does not allow and WHD is just that. There are numerous ahadeeth and sayings from the companions and scholars of Islaam on this issue.
The prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood (4031) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood. ]
WHD is a form of Eid as is very clear. It carries the characteristics of a Eid:
1.Eid is something that comes on a specific day, whether weekly, monthly, or annually.
2. The people gather together in such an event/it has now become an international phenomenon
3. Acts are done in order to celebrate this event whether the acts are acts of worship or not.
The Muslims should realize that establishing such an event should not be done if it contradicts the Shariah of Allah. The scholars and callers to good in the West should have given advice regarding this issue but instead you have some of the figureheads of the Da'wah in Western countries and the Muslim world promoting this! How sad and unfortunate. These callers are absolutely wrong and only Allah knows if they are truly ignorant themselves of the rulings on this issue because there are scholars who have rejected WHD and have given their proofs or if they are too cowardly and ashamed to speak the truth. May Allah guide them and forgive them.
2. The kind of hijaab that is being promoted is NOT the correct hijaab
The hijaab is addressed as "the headscarf" by WHD founder herself (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fgohZYqbmE) and others from the website (hijaab stories). Is the hijaab really just a headscarf? The WHD is meant to educate Muslims and Non-Muslims alike on Islam and Hijaab yet those who conduct WHD do not seem to look into the true meaning, ruling, and conditions of hijaab. The scholars and callers to truth need to call to the correct hijaab in such a time when it is being misinterpreted like this but what can we do if those who are referring to the hijaab as "headscarf" are in fact "scholars" and knowledgable people? And there is no power and might except with Allah. May Allah swt rectify this ummah's affairs.
What is necessary upon the Muslim women is to refer back to the Quran and Sunnah according to the correct understanding. It is not right for us to set up a day for hijaab and yet not call to the correct hijaab or educate others on it! This is in fact a contradiction.
THE CONDITIONS OF THE HIJAAB:
http://en.islamway.net/article/8016/7-conditions-for-a-womans-dress
http://www.islamicgarden.com/article1016.html
http://www.troid.ca/index.php/women/hijaab/154-the-obligatory-conditions-for-an-islaamic-hijaab
http://islamqa.info/en/6991
http://www.igotitcovered.org/2010/02/17/obligatory-conditions-for-hijab/
Do we really need hijaab day? Many of those who support WHD say it is a good effort because in a time where the hijaab is being banned in many countries and the media is portraying the hijaab as oppression and subjugation of the Muslim women, we need something like WHD to clarify matters and educate non-Muslims on the true meaning and spirit of hijaab.
Well, this is a good idea but the hijaab is not just a cultural thing, it is ibadah. It is a form of worship. Therefore, in something like this, one needs to follow the Islamic guidelines. Our intentions may be good and I am sure the intention of sister Nazma Khan (founder of WHD) was a good one but we are not a people who act on our emotions and thoughts alone. We have 2 guiding sources that we need to stick to in all that we do. Al Quran and the Sunnah of our Beloved (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam).
Finally, I advice WHD founder and supporters to look into the matter well. We are not being extreme by being against WHD. In fact, we love this Deen and care about it just as you do. We are concerned about the Da'wah and the war being waged on the hijaab just as you may be concerned. But we choose to refer back to the Shariah in this issue. We do not support WHD because it does not care to really explain the correct hijaab or call to it. We advice the sisters to learn what is the ruling on hijaab and its conditions and to follow it. The hijaab is the true mark of beauty for the Muslim woman. When you go out in public whether to school, work, market, or anywhere public in this correct hijaab, remember you are representing Islaam so you should represent it well. Allah swt is rewarding you for any trial you may go through with this hijaab. It is your jihaad so be sincere to Allah and remain strong and firm. Do not let the barking of the enemies of the hijaab get to you. You are bringing to life the ayah,
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. [Surah al Ahzaab ayah 59]
and the ayah,
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. [Surah al Noor ayah 31]
May Allah guide the Muslim women to stick to the correct hijaab and may He keep them firm on it and we ask Allah to protect all our sisters from harassment and fitnah. May they be rewarded for there struggles and may Allah shower them with patience!
Indeed, the best guidance is the guidance of our beloved prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) for in this guidance lies our success in both this world and the next. Leaving and neglecting the guidance of Muhamamd ibn Abdillah will only lead to lost causes and utter failure. So, O you who seeks success, follow the Messenger of Allah!
Nowadays, it seems as though the Muslims are only drowning in further ignorance and corruption as never before. In these tough times, the prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) advised us to stick to our Deen very strongly, "A time will come upon the people where the one who is holding strong to his Deen will be like the one holding on to hot coals!" [Sunan at-Tirmidhi]
This hadeeth tells us that things will only get stranger as the masses further away from practicing the Deen properly. Those who follow the sunnah and call to it will be seen as either backward or extreme, the deviants will increase in number and many will follow them not knowing who they really are and what they are calling to.
We wish to meet the prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) at al Hawd on the Day of Judgment and to drink from it. Do we not? We ask Allah to not make us of those who will be turned away from the prophet (saws) when he calls out to Allah, "O Lord! My companions!" and it will be said to him, "You do not know what they innovated after you."[Sahih al Bukhari]
This post is meant as an advice for my sisters in Islaam concerning World Hijaab Day or WHD. WHD has become a worldwide phenomenon since it first started in 2013 by sister Nazma Khan of New York and takes place February 1st of each year.
So what exactly is World Hijab Day and why even discuss it? Well, firstly I am choosing to address WHD because Hijaab is a part of our Deen. In fact, it is Ibadah. Allah swt has ordained for the Muslim women to cover her body with the proper islamic jilbaab (outer garments). So our Hijaab is not just a piece of cloth or garment we wear for the sake of modesty. NO. Firstly, we don this hijaab out of obedience to the order of Allah swt and fulfilling this obligation. Secondly, we know that the hijaab represents the modesty of the muslim woman. Another main reason I wish to address World Hijab Day is because nowadays the proper islamic hijaab has been neglected.
The hijaab has been reduced to a "headscarf". The conditions of hijaab are not explained or discussed as they should be and this is a big issue. There are some who give da'wah and give the perception that anything can be hijaab as long as you are "modest." Which Deen are they referring to when they say such things? The Quran and Sunnah have made the conditions of the hijaab very clear and the scholars have explained these in every era.
So WHD as explained on the website was established:
"in recognition of millions of Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab and live a life of modesty."
[source: http://worldhijabday.com/about-us/]
After reading these words, I ask myself what basis does a Muslim have in Islam to establish such an annual event? What is the difference between this and lets say Father's Day, Mother's Day, International Women's Day, World Cancer Day, and so on? Do we really need an annual event to recognize women who wear the hijaab? Isn't this a form of imitating nonbelievers in their events? Is this helpful and good for the Da'wah? Will more good than bad come out of it?
As Muslims, we abide by the Quran and Sunnah and not by our own thoughts and reasoning for such matters. Now sister Nazma Im sure had the best of intentions in starting WHD but when delving into such matters, it is absolutely necessary that the Muslim refers back to the sources and principles of the Shari'ah. We can't just "do" based on our intentions and as they say "run on barakah." We must know the ruling of what we are doing, meaning if it is permissible or not.
The main issues with WHD are as follows:
1. WHD: A form of imitating the kuffar.
World Hijab Day is a good da'wah effort and I won't deny this. In a time where many western countries are banning the hijaab and niqaab ( now more so the niqaab), WHD helps educate non-muslims on hijaab and Islam. Some non-Muslim women have looked into Islam after attending a WHD event. May Allah guide these women to Islaam and keep them firm on it. May Allah guide them to wear the proper shari' hijaab as well and may Allah reward sister Nazma for her good intentions.
I have no problem with WHD if it is done according to the correct islamic guidelines for da'wah and if it is something permissible(i.e. not having it on a specific day of the year). This is the main issue, the correct guidelines are not followed. You have issues such as unnecessary gender interaction, promotion of an incorrect hijaab and lack of true education on Islaam and its fundamentals.
Imitating the disbelievers in their holidays is something the Shariah does not allow and WHD is just that. There are numerous ahadeeth and sayings from the companions and scholars of Islaam on this issue.
The prophet (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood (4031) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood. ]
WHD is a form of Eid as is very clear. It carries the characteristics of a Eid:
1.Eid is something that comes on a specific day, whether weekly, monthly, or annually.
2. The people gather together in such an event/it has now become an international phenomenon
3. Acts are done in order to celebrate this event whether the acts are acts of worship or not.
The Muslims should realize that establishing such an event should not be done if it contradicts the Shariah of Allah. The scholars and callers to good in the West should have given advice regarding this issue but instead you have some of the figureheads of the Da'wah in Western countries and the Muslim world promoting this! How sad and unfortunate. These callers are absolutely wrong and only Allah knows if they are truly ignorant themselves of the rulings on this issue because there are scholars who have rejected WHD and have given their proofs or if they are too cowardly and ashamed to speak the truth. May Allah guide them and forgive them.
2. The kind of hijaab that is being promoted is NOT the correct hijaab
Dear sisters, the hijaab is a fareeda (obligation) from The Most High for the believing women. It has conditions and it is not just anything thrown over the head and body. WHD fails to spread the true message of the hijaab and inviting sisters to it.
The hijaab is addressed as "the headscarf" by WHD founder herself (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fgohZYqbmE) and others from the website (hijaab stories). Is the hijaab really just a headscarf? The WHD is meant to educate Muslims and Non-Muslims alike on Islam and Hijaab yet those who conduct WHD do not seem to look into the true meaning, ruling, and conditions of hijaab. The scholars and callers to truth need to call to the correct hijaab in such a time when it is being misinterpreted like this but what can we do if those who are referring to the hijaab as "headscarf" are in fact "scholars" and knowledgable people? And there is no power and might except with Allah. May Allah swt rectify this ummah's affairs.
What is necessary upon the Muslim women is to refer back to the Quran and Sunnah according to the correct understanding. It is not right for us to set up a day for hijaab and yet not call to the correct hijaab or educate others on it! This is in fact a contradiction.
THE CONDITIONS OF THE HIJAAB:
http://en.islamway.net/article/8016/7-conditions-for-a-womans-dress
http://www.islamicgarden.com/article1016.html
http://www.troid.ca/index.php/women/hijaab/154-the-obligatory-conditions-for-an-islaamic-hijaab
http://islamqa.info/en/6991
http://www.igotitcovered.org/2010/02/17/obligatory-conditions-for-hijab/
3. Do we really need WHD?
Do we really need hijaab day? Many of those who support WHD say it is a good effort because in a time where the hijaab is being banned in many countries and the media is portraying the hijaab as oppression and subjugation of the Muslim women, we need something like WHD to clarify matters and educate non-Muslims on the true meaning and spirit of hijaab.
Well, this is a good idea but the hijaab is not just a cultural thing, it is ibadah. It is a form of worship. Therefore, in something like this, one needs to follow the Islamic guidelines. Our intentions may be good and I am sure the intention of sister Nazma Khan (founder of WHD) was a good one but we are not a people who act on our emotions and thoughts alone. We have 2 guiding sources that we need to stick to in all that we do. Al Quran and the Sunnah of our Beloved (sala allahu alayhi wa sallam).
Finally, I advice WHD founder and supporters to look into the matter well. We are not being extreme by being against WHD. In fact, we love this Deen and care about it just as you do. We are concerned about the Da'wah and the war being waged on the hijaab just as you may be concerned. But we choose to refer back to the Shariah in this issue. We do not support WHD because it does not care to really explain the correct hijaab or call to it. We advice the sisters to learn what is the ruling on hijaab and its conditions and to follow it. The hijaab is the true mark of beauty for the Muslim woman. When you go out in public whether to school, work, market, or anywhere public in this correct hijaab, remember you are representing Islaam so you should represent it well. Allah swt is rewarding you for any trial you may go through with this hijaab. It is your jihaad so be sincere to Allah and remain strong and firm. Do not let the barking of the enemies of the hijaab get to you. You are bringing to life the ayah,
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. [Surah al Ahzaab ayah 59]
and the ayah,
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. [Surah al Noor ayah 31]
May Allah guide the Muslim women to stick to the correct hijaab and may He keep them firm on it and we ask Allah to protect all our sisters from harassment and fitnah. May they be rewarded for there struggles and may Allah shower them with patience!
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